Chess Puzzle #3v7EA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1076 · Beginner · exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, opera mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks g3/g4; bishop d2; pawns a2/c2/d3/f5/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks b8/g8; bishop g7; pawns b3/c5/c6/d6/e5/f6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen f7→h5).
  3. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h4→h5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Rxh6# — rook h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, opera mate. The combination ends with Rxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4rk/5qbQ/2pp1p2/2p1pP2/6R1/1p1P2RP/P1PB2P1/6K1 b - - 0 26

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.